Tank Reconditioning

[waterman68]

I have some steel Fabers I’d like to recondition. Is wet blasting an option?

I was thinking of blasting the top cone back to bare metal then coating them with rust converter and leaving that bit bare so I can always read the stamps and serial numbers.

Still leave the rest white.

One of my tanks has been painted so many times that it has covered up the numbers.

 

[happy-diver]

Yeah like a street artist and when the crowns rust up and you can't see anything again you can put them in here

 

[waterman68]

Thanks, that’s a big help

 

[Johnoly]

...Is wet blasting an option?

Wet blasting includes using an abrasive media that will also removed small amounts of the tank's metal to leave a shiny finish. Technically, you are supposed to do another Hydro tank test to determine that the metal you removed didn't compromise the performance of the tank. In reality,,it is the decision of the shop fill person when they see your 'reconditioned' tank if they will require a fresh hydro. There are other types of surface prep like Soda blasting, chemical brushing and others that won't remove metal but in the end, it's the tank filler who decides after looking at your reconditioned tank whether he will fill it or not. It's best to talk to them first what they will allow or want. FYI (some?/not all) shops want a fresh hydro if you bring in a newly painted tank.
P.S Make sure you use a compatible metal etch on the bare metal first before your primer or you are wasting your time.

 

[waterman68]

Thanks mate, that’s a useful answer

 

[ScubaBunga]

I've reconditioned MANY steel tanks. From inside rust/liner/tumbling to removing outside coating and sand blasting around the crown - most of the time this was to make the numbers more easily read. I did do this before the tanks went to hydro. I painted some of them fully, and I always put a layer of paint around the crown to keep that area very clean. Per general guidance (and to keep my LDS tank guy happy) I always did any heavy work before hydro - as this was usually when I first received the tank. I do minor tumbling (o2 cleaning usually) and have painted a few tanks afterward - but LDS guy knew it had gone through hydro prior. I also do my own VIS so I don't have to argue with him about paint covering anything.

 

[broncobowsher]

I've polished a few aluminum tanks. I do the polish when it is time for hydro. They always come back from hydro with a fresh stamp into the polish. You can tell the hydro stamp is fresh and sharp, clearly done after the polish was done.

 

[waterman68]

I've reconditioned MANY steel tanks. From inside rust/liner/tumbling to removing outside coating and sand blasting around the crown - most of the time this was to make the numbers more easily read. I did do this before the tanks went to hydro. I painted some of them fully, and I always put a layer of paint around the crown to keep that area very clean. Per general guidance (and to keep my LDS tank guy happy) I always did any heavy work before hydro - as this was usually when I first received the tank. I do minor tumbling (o2 cleaning usually) and have painted a few tanks afterward - but LDS guy knew it had gone through hydro prior. I also do my own VIS so I don't have to argue with him about paint covering anything.

Thanks mate